Business

The global market for construction aggregates is expected to increase 5.2 percent per year through 2015 to 48.3 billion metric tons. This represents a slower rate of growth than during the 2005-2010 period, reflecting a moderation in aggregates-intensive nonbuilding construction activity. Nevertheless, demand for construction aggregates will still post solid gains from 2010 to 2015. The Asia/Pacific region will register the largest increases in product sales, as construction activity will rise rapidly, particularly in China and India. China alone will account for half of all new aggregates demand worldwide during the 2010-2015 period. These and other trends are presented in World Construction Aggregates, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Eastern Europe and the Africa/Mideast region are also expected to undergo significant growth in consumption of construction aggregates, stimulated by infrastructure development projects and strong growth in general economic activity. While the Central and South America market will climb at a somewhat slower pace, aggregates suppliers will benefit from gains in regional construction spending.

Expansions in demand in developed parts of the world -- the US, Canada, Japan, Western Europe, South Korea and Australia -- will not be as strong as in most industrializing areas. This is primarily due to the already well-developed infrastructures found in these countries and the construction methods utilized, which tend to feature less concrete.

Demand for crushed stone, sand and gravel products will post similar growth rates of just over five percent per year through 2015. As in 2010, sand will continue to make up the largest portion of global sales, followed closely by crushed stone and then gravel. Due to more restrictive land use and environmental regulations, as well as the depletion of natural aggregates reserves, sales of recycled, secondary and other aggregates will climb at an above-average pace during the 2010-2015 period. However, despite projected growth of 7.1 percent per year over this span, these products will continue to play a small role in world markets due to quality concerns and limitations in the availability of feed material.